Properties of Life

Properties of Life  

• cellular organization - containing 1 or more cells, w/ basic life activities in each cell; cells are separated by a membrane
• order - many different types of cells, each w/ molecular structures
• sensitivity - response to a stimulus (change in the environment)
• growth, development, reproduction - ability to grow/reproduce, pass down hereditary material
• energy utilization - taking in energy to do work
• evolutionary adaptation - long-term response to things that affect survival
• homeostasis - maintaining constant internal conditions

hierarchical organization - each level builds on the level below it in biology  

• cellular level - atoms >> molecules >> macromolecules >> organelles >> cell
• organismal level - tissue >> organ >> organ system >> organism
• population level - population (group of same species living in one place) >> species (group of organisms able to interbreed) >> biological community >> ecosystem

emergent properties - results from how cells interact and work  

• cannot be determined just be looking at the cells
• many creatures have the same type of cells, but appear/work differently

deductive reasoning - uses general principles/rules to predict specific results  

• reasoning used in mathematics/philosophy
• used to test validity of general ideas

inductive reasoning - uses specific observations to make general principles/rules  

• leads to generalizations that can be tested
• modern science uses specific observations to make general models, which are later tested

scientific investigations - all begins w/ series of observations  

• hypothesis - suggested explanation that accounts for the observations; can be modified or replaced
• experiment - test of a hypothesis
• variable - factor possibly affecting the experiment
• control experiment - test where the variable is left unchanged
• differences in results between experiments are due to the variable change
• inconsistent results can lead to the hypothesis being rejected
• theory - either an explanation for natural phenomenon, or brings together many concepts once thought to be unrelated
• basic research - done just to expand knowledge
• applied research - done as part of some industry or job
• peer review - evaluation of any experiment to see if it's accurate